Luke Donald unable to capitalise on fast start at DP World Tour Championship
Thursday 19 November 2015 16:08, UK
Luke Donald struggled to contain his frustration after he failed to build on a blistering start to the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
Donald birdied six of the first seven holes either side of a bogey at the fourth, but he added only one further birdie at 11 while dropping shots at the eighth, 12th and final hole to sign for a disappointing 69 which left him three off the lead.
"It was a game of two halves, said the former world and European No 1. "I got off to a great start, I was really hot out of the gate. Five under through 11, I would have hoped to have finished lower, but there a lot of positives.
"The first 12-13 holes, there wasn't much wind. The conditions were perfect, but the wind then started to pick up a bit. The course is in great shape, the greens are soft and pure, so if you're in control of your ball you can make birdies."
Donald topped the world rankings after winning the money lists on both sides of the Atlantic in a golden 2011 season, but he has now dropped to 77th and is without a victory in over three years.
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"It has been a tough season and I want to finish on a high. I feel like I'm going in the right direction," added Donald, who also backed the European Tour's decision to change its membership requirements from next year.
Players must compete in at least five European Tour-sanctioned tournaments per season, excluding majors and World Golf Championships, and Donald said: "If that change hadn't come into effect I would have struggled to get my number of events in, now my schedule will be very similar."
Meanwhile, Martin Kaymer was delighted to earn a share of the lead on six under as he looks to pick up his first win since lifting his second major title at the US Open in June last year.
The German, who famously blew a 10-shot lead on the final day in Abu Dhabi at the start of the year, carded eight birdies and two bogeys, including one on the short sixth where he found water off the tee.
"I played really solid. I didn't make many mistakes really," said the 2010 European No 1. "I think I got a little unlucky on the par-three where I hit it in the water on the sixth hole. Got a little gust of wind there, but I saved bogey. But I gave myself a lot of chances and I putted really well, so overall it was a very, very good round.
"We all know this is one of my favourite places where The European Tour goes; Abu Dhabi, Dubai, seems like I do well here usually and I've had great success in the past, whether it's in Abu Dhabi winning a tournament, winning The Race to Dubai here in 2010. So for me coming to this part of the world is always a great pleasure."
